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"If we have a look at the table 10 to 12 games in, that will give a rough idea of how everyone's starts have gone. We are only five games in - a good five games - but if we don't do well between now and Christmas then the start doesn't count for anything."

Things have been going well at both ends of the pitch in the league, with Everton conceding only three goals and scoring 10.

Four of those have come in the last two games from Romelu Lukaku, who should return from a toe problem that forced him to miss the EFL Cup defeat to Norwich on Tuesday.

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"We've kept in games and then won games when we've not played as well as we could have done," said Jagielka.

"With the attacking talent we have got - Romelu Lukaku and Yannick Bolasie have done fantastically well these last few games - it's up to us at the back to keep the opponents out so they can get the headlines and win the game for us."

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Tuesday's loss was the first hiccup for Koeman since he joined the club from Southampton in the summer.

Bournemouth have only taken four points from their five games but the Dutchman expects a tough assignment on his first return to the south coast.

He said: "It's a strong team, a team that likes to play football from the back; aggressive, some good quality players. They had a very good season last year and it's a difficult one.